GEORGE TOWN: Penang's air turned hazier Monday although the Air Pollutant Index (API) has yet to breach unhealthy levels.
The API at 11am indicated moderate quality, but visibility has been reduced and there is a slight smell of the smoke.
Prai and Seberang Jaya recorded API readings of 88 and 94 respectively. Seberang Jaya had registered a reading of 64 at 5pm Sunday.
At Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), the reading was 79, compared with 59 a day earlier.
According to the Meteorological Department, visibility in Penang was at 4km, at 2pm.
An API reading of between 0 and 50 is considered good; 51 to 100, moderate; 101 to 200, unhealthy; 201 to 300, very unhealthy; and 301 and above, hazardous.
A doctor here said five patients suffering from asthma had sought treatment from his clinic in Bayan Baru so far on Monday.
"This is a big recurrent rate since I have not seen them between one and two months.
"They are having breathing problems because of the haze," he said.
